I'll scrap MPs' pay, cheap food and drink, pledges Cameron

Tuesday 8 September 2009 10:13 BST

David Cameron says he will end the 'gravy train'

David Cameron today promised to scrap the cheap meals and alcohol served to MPs in Parliament.

He also vowed to stop ministers "swanning around" like royalty in ministerial cars, and announced a cut in ministers' salaries of five per cent if he won power — cutting £6,500 from the Prime Minister's pay and costing every Cabinet minister £4,000.

Promising the "gravy train will well and truly hit the buffers", he said the political world would have to show a lead in cutting costs.

He made clear that would mean attacking the subsidised cheap drinks and taxpayer-funded cuisine that have brought Westminster fame as the cheapest gentlemen's club in town.

"Walk into a bar in Parliament and you buy a pint of Foster's for £2.10," he said in a keynote speech.

"That's a little over half as much as in a normal London pub. And in the restaurants on the Parliamentary estate, you can treat yourself to a Lean salad of lemon and lime-marinated roasted tofu with baby spinach and rocket, home-roasted plum tomatoes and grilled ficelle crouton' for just £1.70.

"That's all thanks to you — taxpayers' cash subsidising a politician's food and drink."

The Tory leader's comments about perks that he benefits from were calculated to put himself on the side of public opinion demanding reform in the wake of the Commons expenses scandal.

Slashing the subsidy would save £5.5 million and make the cost of food and drink in Parliament "match the prices normal people pay around the country".

His proposed pay cut for ministers is less than the £20,000 reduction mooted by Tory sources this year which infuriated some less-wealthy shadow cabinet members.

The 169 ministers are paid between £26,624 and £132,923 on top of their salaries as MPs.

"It's only right, when the country has to share in financial pain, that they make their sacrifice," declared Mr Cameron.

"On top of that, we will freeze their salaries for the lifetime of the next Parliament."